British Values & Equality

British Values

"Keeping our children safe and ensuring schools prepare them for life in modern Britain could not be more important."
– Department for Education (2014)

All schools have a duty to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values, which underpin life in modern Britain, help create communities where everyone belongs.

Our approach goes beyond simply teaching about these values – we actively demonstrate how they work in practice. Through our collective worship plan, we focus on themes such as Respect, Fairness, Justice, Peace and Responsibility each term, bringing these values to life through our creative curriculum and daily interactions.

Democracy in Action

We ensure all pupils have a voice that is listened to, demonstrating how democracy works through active participation. Each year, children contribute to creating their class rules and associated rights, learning how citizens can influence decision-making through democratic processes. Our Pupil Parliament, run by Year 6 children with adult support, provides representation for all children across the school and serves as a forum for raising and discussing issues that matter to them.

Understanding the Rule of Law

We consistently reinforce the importance of laws at every level – whether governing the class, school, or country. Children learn the value and reasons behind rules from an early age, understanding both the responsibilities these involve and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from local authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help strengthen this understanding in practical, real-world contexts.

Promoting Individual Liberty

Within our safe and supportive environment, pupils are actively encouraged to make informed choices and exercise their rights and personal freedoms safely. We provide clear boundaries that help young people understand how to exercise these freedoms responsibly, particularly through our eSafety and PSHE lessons, where they learn about both opportunities and responsibilities in the modern world.

Fostering Mutual Respect

Mutual respect forms the foundation of our school community. Children learn that their behaviours affect both their own rights and those of others, with all school rules based on this principle of respect. Every member of our school community – children, staff, families, and visitors – is expected to treat others with respect, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Celebrating Diversity & Difference

We actively promote diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures, helping children understand that the freedom to hold different beliefs is both protected in law and valued in our community. Our Religious Education and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect, while members of different faiths are regularly invited to share their knowledge and enrich the learning experience. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths, developing an acceptance that people with different beliefs should be respected and celebrated, not discriminated against.

Equality & Inclusion

Sefton Park Schools offer a broad and balanced curriculum with high expectations for all children. The achievements, attitudes, and wellbeing of all our pupils matter, and we're committed to working together to provide an inspirational and exciting learning environment where all children can develop an enthusiasm for life-long learning. We believe that children should feel happy, safe, and valued, so that they gain a respectful and caring attitude towards each other and the environment, both locally and globally.

We're committed to meeting the legal duty set out in the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality, and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups.

Equalities Objectives

Public bodies, including local-authority-maintained schools, are covered by the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. This means the school must publish:

Details of how the school is complying with the public sector equality duty – this is updated annually
The school's equality objectives – this has to be updated at least once every four years

Key Documents

Below are our Equalities Policy and Objectives for 2020-2024, which set out the objectives we have agreed for Sefton Park Schools, plus details on our legislative requirements and the checklist used by staff and governors to ensure we comply with our public sector equality duty. Also included are details of how the school complies with the public sector equality duty, which is updated annually.

Equalities Policy and Objectives 2020-2024 and related information: